DEFINITION/OVERVIEW
- An inflammation of the soft tissues of the oral cavity, which may be caused by many different stimuli of local or systemic origin
- American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) Nomenclature: oral and oropharyngeal inflammation is classified by location
- Stomatitis: inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth; in clinical use, the term should be reserved to describe widespread oral inflammation (beyond gingivitis and periodontitis) that may also extend into submucosal tissues (e.g., marked caudal mucositis extending into submucosal tissues may be termed caudal stomatitis) (Fig. 29-1)
- Gingivitis: inflammation of gingiva
- Periodontitis: inflammation of nongingival periodontal tissue (i.e., the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone)
- Alveolar mucositis: inflammation of alveolar mucosa
- Sublingual mucositis: inflammation of mucosa on the floor of the mouth
- Labial/buccal mucositis: inflammation of the lip/cheek mucosa
- Caudal mucositis: inflammation of mucosa of the caudal oral cavity
- Contact mucositis and contact mucosal ulceration (“contact ulcers” and “kissing ulcers”): lesions in susceptible individuals that are secondary to mucosal contact with a tooth surface bearing the responsible irritant, allergen, or antigen
- Palatitis: inflammation of mucosa covering the hard and/or soft palate
- Glossitis: inflammation of mucosa of the dorsal and/or ventral tongue surface
- Cheilitis: inflammation of the lip (including the mucocutaneous junction area and skin of the lip)
- Osteomyelitis: inflammation of the bone and bone marrow
- Tonsilitis: inflammation of the palatine tonsil(s)
- Pharyngitis: inflammation of the pharynx
- Stomatitis: inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth; in clinical use, the term should be reserved to describe widespread oral inflammation (beyond gingivitis and periodontitis) that may also extend into submucosal tissues (e.g., marked caudal mucositis extending into submucosal tissues may be termed caudal stomatitis) (Fig. 29-1)
Figure 29-1 Stomatitis.
(Image courtesy of the AVDC, “AVDC Nomenclature: Oral and Oropharyngeal Inflammation”: http://avdc.org/nomenclature.html)
ETIOLOGY/PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
- Inflammation and other changes may develop in the normal oral mucosa because of the tremendous amount of vasculature in the area and its proximity to the external environment
- Can also affect behavior due to discomfort and difficulties in eating; ophthalmic conditions due to proximity of some oral structures to ocular structures; and skin conditions if inflammation extends to the perioral area
- Causes
- Anatomical
- Periodontal disease due to overcrowding of teeth
- Lip frenulum attachment
- Tight lip syndrome in Shar-Pei (see Chapter 20)
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
- Periodontal disease due to overcrowding of teeth
- Anatomical
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
